Author Topic: Jesus lost in the Temple (Read 1943 times)

spouse of Jesus · « **on:** August 05, 2010, 08:39:31 PM »

It has been a difficulty for me. Aside from the spiritual meaning of loss of Christ Child, there are some hard to digest things from the human point of view:

1-we are taught that a parent must know exactly where his/her child is, when he will return etc.

2-and that childern must inform parents before going anywhere. (ok it this case it was God's will that He stay in Jerusalem)

3-and that you must not depend on your guess or hope "he might be there" when in doubt about where your child maybe.

But our Lady and Her husband seem to be very easy going, not deciding beforehand whether The Child was going to accompany His mother or St. Joseph. They also thought He might be with other passengers. I thought that every child has to inform his parents if he wants to go and accompany other passengers in any trip, but the fact that they thought Him to be with others makes me think that it was not a must for Jesus to do so, otherwise His parent wouldn't make such a guess.

So my conclusion is: either our standards of good and responsible child bringing are wrong, or at those times everybody took parenthood much easier.

What do you think?

Telesphorus · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2010, 08:42:37 PM »

I do not think his parents lost him by accident. Maybe they were caused to be unaware of His parting from them.

Trinity · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2010, 07:47:31 AM »

Jesus couldn't be wrong, yet Our Lady chided Him. It was a case of man not understanding God. This happens to even the greatest saints. God's folly is greater than our wisdom.

Sigismund · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2010, 02:21:38 PM »

Mary was sinless, but that does not mean she could not make a simple mistake.

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2010, 11:49:37 AM »

I used to think that Mary was right. If it were any other child, (and not Jesus) punishment would follow.
My cousin got lost one day in a trip and the whole family were searching for him. Eventually he returned 2 a m, saying that he could not find the way to lodging. But his mom slapped him on the cheek neverheless.

MyrnaM · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2010, 02:24:30 PM »

<<<<<*Jesus was not a child at this time. "Boy" just means that he was young, or not of age of marriage.

*As a Jєω (only those who have passed a bar mitzah can debate in the temple where the men meet), Jesus may roam where ever he wishes apart from his house hold.

*He was attending his passover inside the Temple court of men for the first time, since he had just attained "manhood" at the age of 12 prior to the Holy Week of the spring festivals.

*Note that he was debating, something that only rabbis would do. The scriptures do not say that he was with a rabbi, infact it clearly demonstates that he was listening AND asking "in the midst of the rabbis", vs. just listening to them.

*Joseph and Mary thought he was in the caravan, was found to not be, so they returned to Jerusalem. Of course, as the divine caretakers of the Messiah, it was they who were troubled that they lost track of where he was.

This episode of Jesus' life marks how he ended his obedience to his parents as a child, and immedietely starts his obedience to his Heavenly Father as a man.

No mistakes were made by anyone,
no sin occured,
no child was lost! This is why we celebrate this part of His life as one of the mysteries of the Rosary. Jesus obeyed his earthly parents perfectly, and immedietely began to obey his Divine parent perfectly.

Note, obedience to God starts in the Temple>>>>>

**************
That was very interesting, and makes sense to me. In fact it brought back some memories, I remember hearing similar from the good nuns that taught me.

Welcome to our group.

Matto · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2010, 02:33:18 PM »

Hi antiBears.

This is an interesting explanation, but I do not understand the part you bolded. Immediately after this episode Jesus "went down with them, and came to Nazareth: and was subject to them." So this was not the end of His obedience to his parents. Also, His obedience to the Father did not start in the Temple, He was always perfectly obedient to the will of the Father from the moment of his conception in the Womb of the Blessed Mother.

Welcome.

MyrnaM · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2010, 04:32:40 PM »

I love it! You sound so much like I was taught, there is always so much more when you read the Bible, there is the shallow and the very deep meanings. I remember learning that!

Not always, but most Protestants I have spoken with, only see the shallow.

JoanScholastica · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2010, 07:18:06 PM »

Quote from: antiBears

Pray for priests who teach in their homilies.... That is what keeps me going. What a joy that we know that God is with us and we see him at every Mass! We lack nothing!

So true! Thanks and welcome aboard!